siatica pain

I have refused injections as when I had them in hip  before made things worse, but it was done by my GP and he admitted he did not put it in correct place.  At the hospital they will injection you properly.  Co-codamol gives me bad side effects, and so does Ibroprofen.  One injection  in my back many years ago did help with the pain, but it did come back after a time.  Definitely worth having if pain unbearable.  If I was you, I would give it a try.  At least you would get some relief.  You can't go on like this. 

If you can get some relief from the nerve compression you will feel better.  Sadly now we have the disc degeneration there is nothing to be done as it is something that happens to a lot of people as they age.  I have had back problems all my life. 

I do hope all the medication helps you.  Oh dear lack of sleep is awful especially if you have a disabled child to care for.  I really feel for you.

I do a chore, then rest for a while, and then do another, rest, and so on.  Not easy for you though.  I live alone so can take my time.  I was always active though and enjoyed walking and I am very frustrated that my mobility is now compromised.  Sciatica should clear up in time.  I have had it before, and known others with same problem. 

I would like to know if the acupuncture works out of interest.  Anything worth a try.  I am glad you are getting hospital treatment.  I have twice had physio at my hospital, last year had six sessions.  Don't feel I can ask again.  Managing with the exercises and supplements and paracetamol. 

I did try private treatment by osteopath but cannot afford it now.  You may find that helps.   

I recently had to buy a walking stick.  Much worse for you as you are young and have children to look after.  I am so sorry you are in so much pain. 

No you have to take the pain killers

I've had a hearniated disc L5 / S1 now for 7 months. 8 Weeks ago I had a Nerve root block which left me in even more severe pain, so much so that i've not walked since. I can now manage aout 5 metres on crutches but that's about all I can stand as the pain gets too intense. 

I've had 3 sessions of Acupuncture, the first tester session gave me 2 days of good pain relief, the second longer session less so with only a few hours. I had my 3rd session (25 minutes with ten needles) on Wednesday and I was walking without crutches about the house! It doesn't last long though and when the pain kicks back in it almost feels worse. 

I think it's worth a shot as it's one of the few treatments available on the NHS that doesn't involve surgery or drugs. Go with an open mind but don't expect a miracle cure, every little bit of pain relief is good when you are at this stage. Even if you only get 2 hours of pain reduction it's worth it. My acupuncture is carried out by my physiotherapist as part of my NHS scheme. If you are having physio ask your therapist as most are trained to administer Acupuncture but won't necessarily tell you unless you ask. If you are getting a result after 4 sessions you can then get referred to a pain clinic for twice weekly sessions (ongoing) 

I'm 43, self employed with an 8 year old active child and a partner that works shifts. I've gone from the person in the home that did everything (cooking, cleaning, looking after the child, school runs, working full time 7 days a week) to someone who is now totally dependent on everyone else to do everything for me. 

If you are being offered Acupuncture take it straight away, don't wait because it's most likely that physio will not work on its own and you'll be in a worse state by the time acupuncture starts. You can then do the gentle exercises alongside the acupuncture that you physio gives you without causing even more discomfort (I know that is an odd word to use as if you are anything like me your pain is off the scale!) 

Have you tried a heat pad on your lower back and leg? I get some good comfort from heat. 

You may also benefit from using essential oils in a bath...here is a list that I grabbed from the internet...

German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) – has analgesic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) - has anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties.  Good for neuralgia.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) – has anaesthetic, analgesic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties.  Good for cooling inflamed areas.

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) –  has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.  Good for neuralgia.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) – has analgesic and antispasmodic properties.  It is quite warming.

Marjoram (Origanum majorana) – has analgesic and antispasmodic properties.  Helpful for muscle aches and pains.  A very relaxing oil.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) – has analgesic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties.  Helpful for muscle pain and cramp.

Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) – tones the muscles and is one of my favourites to use in cases of sciatica.

Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) – has antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties.  Helpful for muscle spasms, sprains, strains, cramps, muscular contractions, lumbago, muscular aches & pains, sciatica and neuralgia.

(up to 10 drops in a warm bath) 

Other than getting good power naps (hard I know) and drinking lots of water there is not too much else out there. Some have had experience with inversion tables and other physio techniques. 

Hope things work out better for you than they did for me! 

Stay strong, we are a great support network here who will always lend an ear should you need help, encouragement and advice. 

Rachel

Had my last trial acupuncture session on Wednesday which was actually quite painful where he positioned the needles in my back as my muscles are so tense from holding the pain for so long. Had a gruelling night where I felt like I couldn't go on anymore. It settled down though and by the Friday was feeling much better. Today has been a terrible day... pain off the scale again, I think I overdid it by going out for an hour on my crutches! I literally only went to a cafe and sat down for lunch but it was enough to flare things up, so again I came home and had another fit. 

So to cut the story short I am now on the official "waiting list" for acupuncture with my pain clinic and guess what? Yes, a ten week waiting list...way to go!! All this waiting drives me nuts, nothing seems to flow in the NHS, if they continued with treatment at a steady rate i'm sure 90% of us would be better and not have to face surgery or long term pain killers. 

Phew, sorry for the rant but i'm a little miffed that my physio has signed me off and told me there is nothing else they can do for me. They told me to sit it out for the operation (4 Months +++)

Well I hope you got some good results from the acupuncture. I'm really hoping that it's good news for you....you need something to help you through this. 

Take care, Rachel

Sciatic pain can be eliminated completely with acupuncture, not just a temprorary relief.  

I meant to have replied to this a few days ago, but life has gotten in the way......

I too have/had sciatica, which really raised its' head in a big way in about  July 2013, resulting in permanent pins and needles/numbness in my right foot - I had a discectomy and/or decompression for  right sided L4/L5 disc in May 2014 - my surgeon commented in June 2014 that this 'paraesthesia' as he called it should go away with time, so called me back in in December 2014, and when he realised that there had been no change in my condition, referred me to the hospital Pain Clinic - I went there in March/April this year, only to be told that they only deal with post-operative 'pain' and not pre-existing conditions! - however, having said that, they have called me back in, although I have no idea what they think will come of it! - I was also referred by my diabetes nurse at my GP to a podiatrist at my local hospital, and the first question of me was why and who had referred me - my response was that it had been such a long time since referral that I couldn't remember, but if she told me a name of the referror, I would probably be able to tell her who it was, and that is when we both started singing from the same song-sheet; however, ultimately, this podiatrist appointment was a waste of time, both hers and mine, and she suggested that I ask my GP to refer me to  neuro-physiologist - when I mentioned this to my GP, he asked me if I knew what a neuro-physiologist would do/be able to do, and indeed whether I thought that the podiatrist would also know! Anyway, upshot of this conversation with my GP was that no further action was going to happen, other than my referral to the pain clinic - such is life, eh?

Back to topic! - when the paraesthesia took hold, I was in absolute agony, although the effect of the sciatica itself was bearable - I was put on liquid morphine by the paramedic/out of hours doctor who attended when this happened, along with naproxen (500mg x 2) amitryptyline (25mg) diazepam (2mg x 2) pregabalin (50mg x3) and paracetamol (1000mg x 4) daily; the liquid morphine was changed to zomorph (20mg x 2) - I was as high as a kite!!

I have now cut out the amitriptyline, paracetamol and zomorph altogether, and reduced the pregabalin, naproxen and diazepam to one dose a day, and having spoken to my GP, am about to reduce the diazepam further; however, my main point regarding naproxen is that my present GP, who is brilliant and who I have been with since all this happened, states that if anyone is on naproxen, they should also be on Omeprazole 20mg, as this is likely to reduce the gastro problems that can arise out of using naproxen - if you are not on Omeprazole, have a word with your GP (my previous GP didn't even think of this, by the way - another reason perhaps why I should have gone for him on the grounds of medical negligence - he actually suggested that himself!)

Other than this paraesthesia/numbness, I have no pain, and I am not sure whether this being pain-free is as a result of medication, (or whether they are having no effect whatsoever)

Very best of luck

Patient99

Sorry to hear of such pain - I hope you get to see a surgeon without too much delay

Kind thoughts

Patient 99

ive got a small bulge in l5 catching my sciatic nerve with a right side eccentriciy ... all i will say is hang in there   very painful. i was going to start running again even i dont know if its wise. best of luck